The New York Times has abruptly dismissed Jill Abramson, the newspaper's first female executive editor, after less than three years in the job.

Ms Abramson, 60, is replaced by her deputy Dean Baquet, who will become the paper's first African-American top editor.

The company did not give a reason for Ms Abramson's departure.

She recently got a tattoo of the gothic T from the newspaper's masthead on her back. Her name was taken off that masthead yesterday.

Arthur Sulzberger, the newspaper's publisher, made the announcement

Arthur Sulzberger Jr, the newspaper's publisher and chairman of its parent company, cited an "issue with management in the newsroom" when he made the unexpected announcement of her exit.

But reports said Ms Abramson was sacked.

Ken Auletta, media critic for the New Yorker, says Ms Abramson was fired after confronting her bosses about the discovery that her pay and pension were "considerably less" than her male predecessor as executive editor, Bill Keller.